for a handgun shot presents itself...Glad to hear you are getting in shape..me too.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

I decided to go handgun only in 1997. Been doing it ever since. Once you make the decision to do so, your hunting strategy changes. You'll start hunting more like a bow hunter. I'll warn you in advance though, there are days when you see that monster (whitetail in my case) buck out of sane handgun range, never to be seen again, but that's part of the hunt.

...taken a few with single shot pistols. But without fail, if I have had a rifle, or scoped pistol with me, the revolver never got used. Several of them would have been been easy revolver shots. Even a time where the iron sighted pistol would have been EASIER to make the shot with than the scoped one, the deer was so close and in cover. Yet it just never happens. And every time I kick myself.

Yup the handgun hunters paradox, pack a rifle, hope for the revolver shot but then the elk is 25 yards away in the timber and you can't set the rifle down without blowing the opportunity so you just go ahead and shoot the elk with your rifle.

I found if you want to handgun hunt you have to leave the rifle in the truck or better yet the safe. I have a trophy mule deer hunt coming up and I am torn, I don't know the county, so the rifle is coming along and I have decided to use it situationally. Most of this hunt will be spot and stalk and I really want to use the handgun only, but after 12 years of building points up to get the tag I sure don't want miss out if the country is just too open to have a good chance to get in close.

Good luck with your hunt.

Do you hunt to eat, for the challenge, to enjoy the outdoors, to get something to brag about, or is there some other reason. THAT decides which tool you use. Once you make the decision, then you can have a peace with it as it is made for the right reason.

I have been known to change the reason I went out several times during the week...

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Sincerely,

Hobie

So, there have been some friends, military brethren, who have passed on from this world, who have become a reminder that I shouldn't have a bucket list, but still I do. One of the items is a big game animal with a traditional muzzleloader, I currently do not own one, but a very close second (virtual tie), is to do the same thing with a handgun, which I do happen to own. Now, I have been unsuccessful in my hunting endeavors since leaving Alaska, due in large part to my lack of being in the best shape I can, due in part to me being not the best of woodsman. So I have a cow elk tag for a late hunt here, first week of December, in my head, I want to leave the rifle at home, and try to blood my FA 454, my heart says another year of tag soup, take the rifle and increase the odds. I know as long as I bring the rifle, I will never fulfill my dream of being a true handgun hunter. I am walking 4-6 days a week, trying to increase my distance, riding my bicycle, spending more time on the mountain. I hate that I only have a 5 day season, so, I have 6 weeks or so to decide. On the plus side, I see an increase in 454 trigger time.

Dave

I have killed over dozen deer and hogs with handguns while a rifle is within easy reach or slung over my shoulder. If I was going on a rare or once in a lifetime hunt I would probably have a rifle with me at all times. I consider myself a handgun hunter, but use a rifle when I need to. The last few hogs I have shot were with Rifles because of the low light and the need for a scope. So if you set your mind to it, it is very easy to shoot something with a handgun when a rifle is present.

The last deer I killed came up from behind the stand. I pulled the TLA up and had it cocked, then I looked and saw my #1 .35 Whelen setting there all lonely since it had never killed anything. I quietly payed the TLA down and shot her with the rifle. The TLA had taken a doe out of the same stand at almost the exact same spot the previous year. It was the rifles turn.

I really enjoy using different guns for hunting. When I was young I always thought I would be like my dad and grandfather and use one rifle for years.

My best year hunting I shot 12 Deer and hogs in about 3 months. The first 7 were with 7 different guns and 7 shots. 3pistols and 4 rifles. After that we got into several groups of hogs and had multiple shots fired.

I will be using this in a month or so to take some meat. Probably a farm deer. I can hit a bird in the eye flying offhand with it. But I always have a backup in the form of a Blackhawk with XTPs and 2400.

I'm thinking Nicole Kidman and Danica Patrick at the same time for my bucket list....

Byron